RTE's Ryan Tubridy shared a heartwrenching story when a woman was left "in tears" after being stopped repeatedly at garda checkpoints.
The popular presenter said that this lockdown was "particularly" tough compared to the previous one.
Tubs was speaking to Dr Keith Gaynor, Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology at UCD, who said that there were reasons to find "hope" despite these incredibly tough times, the Irish Mirror reports.
However, listeners were not convinced, with one story, in particular, jumping out.
He told his RTE Radio One morning show: "We've got a text from Kathleen in Galway saying: 'I've spent the last few days in tears in my flat.
"I was stopped at the checkpoint going to the local shop and stopped again going to the dentist.
"We all know people back from sun holidays in our supermarkets and UK-registered cars all over Christmas without isolating.
"We're the soft targets, that's why it's more difficult. Tell Keith I'm not hopeful.'"
And Dr Gaynor admitted that while it was difficult, we have to "go out and find" hope in times like this.
He explained: "Yeah and I think this is the reason for the piece, I think the majority of people I ask are not hopeful.
"I think with hope we have to go and find it, it won't come to us. It seems things like the garda checkpoints and things like that can be very dispiriting, here we are again.
"But actually digging down, what is it in here where I can find hope. I wonder within that 5km is there something that might be hopeful. Where's the daffodil. Seek it out."
It comes after Tanaiste Leo Varadkar confirmed last night that the Government plans to keep full lockdown restrictions in place until March 5.
Mr Varadkar said that the harsh restrictions are set to remain in place for another six weeks should Cabinet agree on the measures which would be in line with measures in place in Northern Ireland.
The cabinet is set to meet to discuss the current proposals.
The Tanaiste also said that the Government was looking at a phased reopening of schools in February however he hinted that it would depend on whether cases numbers were low enough.
Speaking on RTE's Claire Byrne Live he said: "The number of cases is coming down... but still nowhere near low enough.
"Our hospitals are in a very difficult position using surge capacity for ICU and critical care at the moment so the advice to Cabinet tomorrow is that we should extend Level Five lockdown as it is until March.
"That's to align us with Northern Ireland but it also allows for the phased reopening of education."
